Material handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

For receiving elongated elements, in particular &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;angles&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and the like, an apparatus which includes an inclined surface along which the elements are permitted to slide laterally into a receiving notch. Counterweighted pivotal finger members protrude through slots at the receiving notch. The finger members absorb the sideward force of the elongated elements while at the same time exerting a retaining action thereon which serves to prevent elements entering the receiving notch from turning or flipping. The finger members are designed to recede into their respective slots as each element is removed from the receiving notch, and to thereafter return to their operative positions in preparation for receipt of the next element.

llmted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,837,453 Klusmier Sept. 24, 1974MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner [75]Inventor: Kenneth L. Klusmier, Worcester, Attorney Agent or FirmThompson Birch Gauthier Mass & Samuels [73] Assignee: MorganConstruction Company,

Worcester, Mass. ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1973 For receivingelongated elements, in particular angles and the like, an apparatuswhich includes an in- [211 Appl' 323642 clined surface along which theelements are permitted to slide laterally into a receiving notch.Counter- [52] US. Cl 193/40, 214/1 P weighted pivotal finger membersprotrude through [51] Int. Cl. B65g 11/20 slots at the receiving notch.The finger members ab- [58] Field of Search 214/ l P, 1 PB; 193/32, sorbthe sidewardv force of the elongated elements 193/40 while at the sametime exerting a retaining action thereon which serves to preventelements entering the [56] References Cited receiving notch from turningor flipping. The finger UNITED STATES PATENTS members are designed torecede into their respective 2 710 104 6/1955 Putnam 214 PB X slots aseach element is removed from the receiving 2949302 8/1960 Place 193/32notch, and to thereafter return to their operative posi- 2:920:22 4/1961cross/II: IIIII'III'IIIIl fffii/zo'x' tions in Preparation for receiptof the next element- 3 2 97 0 white 214/] P 3 Claims, 2 Drawing FiguresI b I4 38 .32 I

1 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates generally to an apparatus for handling elongatedelements, in particular those commonly referred to as angles.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a means forreceiving laterally moving elongated elements in a manner which preventsthe elements from turning or flipping about their longitudinal axes.This is particularly important when handling elements such as angleswhere each element must be properly and predictably oriented beforebeing transferred to other equipment. To this end, the present inventionemploys a downwardly inclined surface which terminates at its lower endin a receiving notch. Elongated elements are deposited on the inclinedsurface and are allowed to slide laterally down into the notch, at whichpoint the elements come to rest. Counterweighted pivotal finger membersprotrude through slots at the receiving notch. The finger members absorbthe sideward force of the elements as they enter the notch, while at thesame time exerting a holding action which prevents the elements fromturning or flipping as they come to rest. Thus for example, if an angleis deposited in an inverted position on the inclined surface, it willslide down into the notch and will come to rest in the same position.The finger members are further designed to recede into their respectiveslots as the elements are removed from the receiving notch, and tothereafter pivotally return to their operative positions in preparationfor receipt of the next element.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of an apparatus embodying theconcepts of the present invention; and,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numbers designate likecomponents throughout the several veiws, there is generally indicated atan apparatus embodying the concepts of the present invention. Theapparatus includes a downwardly inclined support surface 12 which isprovided at its lower end with an upturned vertical lip 14 defining areceiving notch generally indicated at 16. The apparatus is furtherprovided at suitably spaced locations along its length with slots 18which extend through the upturned vertical lip 14 and the lower portionof the inclined support surface 12.

Generally L-shaped members 20 are attached to the up-turned vertical lip14 at locations adjacent to each slot 18. The L-shaped members aresecured by any convenient means, for example bolts 22. Each L- shapedmember has a vertical leg with a lateral extension 24 which overlaps theadjacent slot 18 and serves as a stop. The horizontal leg 26 of eachmember 20 ex-. tends beneath the support surface 12 and has affixed toits edge a short shaft 28. The shafts 28 extend in a directiontransverse to the lengths of the slots 18 and pivotally support membersgenerally indicated at 30. Each member 30 has an upwardly inclinedfinger 32, a laterally extending shoulder 34, and an oppositelyextending counterweight portion 36.

The counterweight portion 36 serves to rotatably urge the member 30 intothe operative position shown in the drawings with the shoulder 34 incontact with stop 24 and with the inclined finger 32 protrudingvertically through the slot 18 at the receiving notch 16 where theinclined surface 12 joins the inside face 38 of the upturned verticallip 14.

The apparatus operates in the following manner: elongated elements, forexample angles, are initially deposited by other handling means (notshown) in an inverted condition on the inclined support surface 12 at alocation indicated in dotted at 40 The elements then slide down thesurface 12 into the receiving notch 16 where they come to rest at theposition shown by the solid lines at 40. As each element arrives at thereceiving notch, it comes into contact with the upwardly inclinedfingers 32, the latter being pivotally operable about the axis definedby shafts 28 to absorb the kinetic energy of the elements 40. This isaccomplished by pivotally raising the counterweight portions 36 in acounter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The fingers 32 alsoexert a downward holding action on the elements which prevent them fromturning or flipping about their longitudinal axes as they come to rest.Where angles are involved, as shown in the drawings, this insures thatthe angles remain in their original inverted condition, and thus avoidscomplications that might otherwise be presented if the angles were toturn or flip in the receiving notch 16 before being removed therefrom.

After each element comes to rest in the receiving notch 16, it isvertically removed by means (not shown) and transferredto otherequipment. As this occurs, the fingers 32 pivotally recede into theslots 18 as the members 30 pivot in a counter-clockwise direction to theinoperative positions indicated by the dot-dash lines at 30'. As soon asan element clears the upper edge of lip 14, the members 30 pivot backdownwardly under the influence of the counterweight portions 36 to theirinoperative positions as shown by the solid lines in the drawings.

In light of the above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that although the invention has been described in connection withthe handling of angles, much the same results and advantages will beobtained when handling other cross-sectional shapes.

It is my intention to cover all changes and modifications of theembodiment herein chosen for purposes of disclosure which do not departfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for laterally receiving elongated elements comprising incombination: a downwardly inclined support surface along which elongatedelements deposited thereon are permitted to move laterally towards thelower end thereof, an upwardly extending lip cooperating with the lowerend of said support surface to define a notch for receiving the elementsmoving along said support surface, a slot extending through said lipinto the adjacent lower portion of said support surface, holding meanspivotally mounted for movement about an axis extending in a directiontransverse to the length of said slot, said holding means being providedwith a shoulder, a finger and a counterweight portion, stop meansextending across said slot, said holding means being rotatable aboutsaid axis under the influence of said counterweight portion to anoperative position at which the said shoulder is in contact with saidstop means and said finger protrudes upwardly through said slot at thejunction of said lip with said support surface, whereupon an elongatedelement laterally entering said notch will be yieldingly engaged by saidfinger and prevented from turning or flipping.

2. Apparatus for laterally receiving elongated elements, comprising: adownwardly inclined surface having an upturned lip at its lower endwhich cooperates with said surface to form a notch, the inclination ofsaid surface being such that elongated elements deposited thereon willslide laterally downwardly into said notch; a slot in said surface andsaid lip extending laterally across said notch; a fixed stop memberadjacent to said when said holding means is in said operative position.

1. Apparatus for laterally receiving elongated elements comprising incombination: a downwardly inclined support surface along which elongatedelements deposited thereon are permitted to move laterally towards thelower end thereof, an upwardly extending lip cooperating with the lowerend of said support surface to define a notch for receiving the elementsmoving along said support surface, a slot extending through said lipinto the adjacent lower portion of said support surface, holding meanspivotally mounted for movement about an axis extending in a directiontransverse to the length of said slot, said holding means being providedwith a shoulder, a finger and a counterweight portion, stop meansextending across said slot, said holding means being rotatable aboutsaid axis under the influence of said counterweight portion to anoperative position at which the said shoulder is in contact with saidstop means and said finger protrudes upwardly through said slot at thejunction of Said lip with said support surface, whereupon an elongatedelement laterally entering said notch will be yieldingly engaged by saidfinger and prevented from turning or flipping.
 2. Apparatus forlaterally receiving elongated elements, comprising: a downwardlyinclined surface having an upturned lip at its lower end whichcooperates with said surface to form a notch, the inclination of saidsurface being such that elongated elements deposited thereon will slidelaterally downwardly into said notch; a slot in said surface and saidlip extending laterally across said notch; a fixed stop member adjacentto said slot; holding means mounted for pivotal movement in said slotabout an axis extending transversally relative to said slot, saidholding means having an element engaging finger, a shoulder and acounterweight section, the said counterweight section being effective torotatably urge said holding means into an operative position with saidshoulder contacting said stop member and with said element engagingfinger protruding upwardly through said slot into said notch.
 3. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said element engaging membercooperates with said inclined surface to define an acute angletherebetween when said holding means is in said operative position.